Photographer's Note

While there are no dive-shops in Bantayan island, there's some decent snorkeling nearby.
On this particular day, we went to Virgin island, a twenty minutes boatride from Bantayan (in the background). The reefs are pretty nice here, while the Philippine plague of dynamite fishing has destroyed any reefs close to Bantayan island.

We left with sunshine from a blue sky, but very fast, a menacing blanket of clouds were pulling up upon us from the West. I had just put on my snorkel, when it started raining heavily. However, that was absolutely no problem! Who cares about getting wet, when you are swimming??

I actually really enjoyed swimming in the rain, as it was a bit colder on my back and I could hear the drumming of the rain, while looking down upon crazy colourful fishes and the reef. A nice trip!!

Ask some of the tricycle drivers in Santa Fe to arrange the boattrip. It should be around 800 Peso for a half-day trip, (for the boat, not pr. person), where you can bring some fish and make a barbecue in Virgin Island.

Great shot, nice contrast between the beautiful colours of the sea and the oncoming Grey storm clouds. And the trusty Bangka boat. If you haven't heard, a group of filipinos (including Sea Bajao elders and master craftsmen) are embarking on a journey in a traditional "Balangay" boat, in which our ancestors arrived in through sea-faring (Austronesians - i am sure you know, as i read your doing anthropology in your profile :) hehe). They are visiting multiple islands in the Philippines this year, all the way to the Sea Bajau's domain, the floating town (The venice of the Philippines!) Sitangkai in the Sulu sea. They then plan on travelling the known Austronesian world like our ancestors, and to promote Filipino culture and traditions. An amazing journey perfomed with no instruments but local knowledge and skills of the Bajau tribesmen who are born on the sea and live their lives on the sea, many never have stayed on land more than a day. The balangay transported entire villages, hence the name for village in Tagalog is "Barangay", supposedly derived from the original ancestors boat.